Dr. CJ Epstein Applies Pro Sports Chiropractic Expertise to General Practice

Dr. CJ Epstein, owner of Team Elite Chiropractic in Downtown San Diego, Scripps Ranch, and La Jolla, is celebrating his third season as the team chiropractor for the San Diego Padres. While Dr. CJ works on the Padres athletes, he also has experience with professional athletes in other sports, as well as San Diego patients outside the world of professional sports.

About Dr. CJ

After graduating from Palmer College of Chiropractic West with his Doctor of Chiropractic Degree, Dr. CJ went on to start Team Elite Chiropractic. He maintains several certifications in various types of sports chiropractic care. Today, he uses his extensive experience in chiropractic to work with the Padres organization to help keep them fit throughout the season.

“I went into chiropractic with one of my main goals of working with a professional sports team,” Dr. CJ said in an interview. “The fact that it happened five years into my career was pretty quick.”

Dr. CJ shows his passion for keeping players at their best by spending three to four hours before every other home game working on the players and staff. Some players will come to him on their own for general maintenance care. Others are referred to him by another member of the Padres training staff, like the physical therapist or acupuncturist, for an adjustment after an injury.

How Dr. CJ Applies His Experience with the Padres to his Practice

While Dr. CJ’s main role with the Padres is providing manual adjustments, working with the team has had other benefits for him and his patients in his practice.

“Working with the Padres has allowed me to see how a multidisciplinary practice is run. In my office, I’m trying to fill the role of all these other practitioners because my patients most likely aren’t going to, or don’t have the resources, to see an athletic trainer, a physical therapist, a massage therapist, and a chiropractor,” 

Dr. CJ said when asked how his practice has evolved through working with the Padres.

Working with the Padres has helped him communicate better with other professionals outside of his practice. Seeing how each practitioner interacts with the athletes and is able to bring their own unique perspective to the table has helped him learn more about when and where to refer patients, as well as the benefits of doing so.

“It’s taking that team approach I have in the Padres facility and bringing it to the real world. I’m a better communicator with my patient’s personal trainer or their massage therapist that they also see regularly so that we can all work to help make that patient feel better in the long run,” 

Dr. CJ said of his evolving approach to chiropractic care in these different settings.

Dr. CJ understands that, at the end of the day, the patients in his practice have the same care needs as the Padres players when it comes to keeping their bodies healthy. Check out the Team Elite Team and book an appointment today.